We Can Only Build Better Together: Mayor Demings Delivers 2024 State of the County Address
On Friday, June 7, residents and community leaders gathered at the Linda Chapin Theatre inside the Orange County Convention Center to hear Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings’ 2024 State of the County address. In his speech, the Mayor focused on Orange County’s accomplishments and challenges over the past year. He emphasized its strategic public, private and philanthropic partnerships that have fostered a community culture of building better together.
“We’ve had a year of remarkable achievements and continued strong economic growth,” he said. “It’s also been a year filled with opportunities, challenges and significant milestones that have helped shape our community.”
The Mayor reminded everyone that to build better, the County must remain financially strong, and Orange County Government once again received Fitch’s highest triple-A rating across the board. Building on a strong economy, the County continued to see commercial and residential activity growth, issuing more than 80,000 permits with a development value of $2.2 billion.
The address also highlighted how the county aggressively addresses the affordable housing crisis, growth-related transportation, and environmental challenges. It also mentioned four industries integral to our thriving economy: tourism and hospitality, agriculture, simulation and technology, and life sciences and medical technologies.
As part of his address, the Mayor outlined initiatives and accomplishments in other high-priority areas such as health services and public safety, mental and behavioral health, sustainability and the environment, sense of community and community engagement, and sports, arts and culture. Some additional highlights include:
- Orlo Vista Flood Mitigation Project removed 23,000 dump trucks of dirt
- 2,300 affordable housing units built or under development
- $100M for accelerated transportation projects
- 74M visitors generated $87.6B in economic impact
- 91,000 patients served at Orange County’s Primary Access Network
- 24,000 acres of land protected for conservation
“We’re building better together through partnerships in affordable housing, public safety, and transportation,” concluded Mayor Demings. “We’re building better together by supporting our businesses, innovation and entrepreneurs. We’re building better together by increasing access to behavioral health services. We’re building better together by preserving and sustaining our environment, and we’re building better together by embracing diversity and promoting arts and culture that uplift our community. If you want to live in a better community, we can only build better together.”